Whether you are opening a dessert shop or selling ice cream at a stall, the right ice cream paper cups will create a good impression on customers. When selecting paper cups, many people only look at the appearance and ignore safety and practicality, and a series of problems will occur: the cup for holding ice is easy to leak, the cup is too soft and will collapse in a low temperature, the printing colour fades, it fails the environmental inspection, and it will even crack in the cold chain transportation.
The paper cups used for ice cream are quite different from the usual cups used for hot drinks. They must resist low temperatures, prevent condensation and not be penetrated by cream fats. Hardness, leakproofness, appearance, procurement cost and environmental protection requirements should be taken into consideration.
We will analyse five ice cream paper cup materials commonly used in the market in this article. You can refer to this article when opening a store to buy.
1. What material is used to make ice cream paper cups?
The actual commercial paper cups are made from food-grade virgin wood paper and coated with a waterproof coating. They are made from virgin paper and are food contact suitable. The five types are categorised to meet the needs of small street vendors, chain stores and high-end trendy shops.
1.1 Double-sided/single-sided PE coated paper cups
The most common type of cup on the market and the first choice for most businesses. Made from food grade wood pulp paper, with inner or double layer PE coating, waterproof and oil resistance. Double sided cups are very important for ice cream making, mainly to avoid condensation and cream seepage. Good for chain dessert shops, supermarkets, and street vendors.
1.2 High-end environmental protection of PLA biodegradable coated paper cups.
Instead of plastic coating, a plant-based coating made from corn and cassava is used, so there is almost no plastic content and the product decomposes fully thru industrial composting. Perfect for fashion stores, premium Italian gelato and green events.
1.3 Food-grade kraft paper cups
Are made of thickened kraft paper as the body and an inner PE waterproof coating. The paper is thick and has a retro, minimalist feel. It is popular among outdoor markets, upscale milk tea shops and trendy dessert shops, it is easy to print and deliver great photos.
2. Ice Cream Paper Cup Material Comparison
2.1 PE coated paper cups (the choice of the general public)
Advantages: Waterproof and oil proof, it willnot leak or soften even if it is used to hold ice cream for a long time. It can be frozen at -20 degrees Celsius. The printed patterns on the cup are clear. It is cheap, the supply is stable, there is no odour and it meets the food safety requirements.
Disadvantages: The PE plastic coating is not biodegradable, so it is not suitable for zero-plastic eco-friendly stores. It can only hold cold drinks and not hot water.
2.2 PLA Biodegradable Paper Cup (Premium Eco Edition)
Advantages: Plastic is totally decompose in industrial composting environment with no plastic remains, and fulfils the current consumer needs for green products. Waterproof and low temperature resistance are the same as PE cups which are less likely to leak and deform during cold storage and market display. The plant-based coating is safe and enhances the store’s image.
Disadvantages: The price is 30% to 50% higher than PE cups, which puts a lot of cost pressure on large volume purchase. Degrades rapidly only in specialised composting equipment; very slow to degrade outdoors. Sensitive to high temperature and direct sunlight, needs temperature control during warehousing and transportation. Longer lead time for customisation samples and delivery.
2.3 Kraft Paper Cups ( Trendy and stylish design)
Characteristics: natural wood fibres + PE lamination. It is resistant to low temperature, oil, thick and solid, anti-compression, suitable for large ice cream container.
Cons: Only natural cowhide colour, not easy to colour printing, relatively expensive, poor workmanship, easy to have edge defects.
3. How to choose the material for ice cream paper cups
Don’t judge by looks and price alone. If it is vulnerable to leaks and customer complaints, procurement should take scenario positioning and budget into account .
3.1 Selection by location in the store
Street vendors who sell in bulk at low prices: Single-sided PE cups . Low unit price , enough for short term use .
Chain milk tea shops and regular dessert shops: Double-sided PE white cardboard cups – best overall cost-performance ratio, stable and error-free printing, universal option.
Kraft paper PE coated cups. Retro and attractive, trendy shops and creative dessert shops, great for photos, enhancing the overall style.
PLA biodegradable cups for upscale Italian gelato shops and eco-friendly stores. Quality, feel and environment friendliness.
3.2 Select by storage and delivery type
For storing fresh ice cream, both PE and kraft paper cups are good candidates and can be stored at room temperature just fine.
For frozen storage and long distance shipping: Best are double sided PE cups. Thick ones are good because they won’t leak, are resistant to freezing and to compression.
For outdoor stalls with no shade in summer: Do not use PLA ice cream cups, coating will soften at high temperature Use PE and kraft paper.
3.3 Selection based on environmental compliance requirements
No harsh environmental regulations and you don’t supply to the supermarkets. Then PE coated cups are the way to go. Compliant and cost-effective.
So if you need to be environmentally certified, you supply supermarkets or you are processing export orders: go for PLA biodegradable paper cups to meet plastic free audit standards.
3.4 Key Points to Avoid Procurement Pitfalls
Do not purchase low quality paper cups without food testing reports, thin and fragile, with an odour or uneven coating thickness.
4. Are Ice Cream Paper Cups Biodegradable?
As environmental regulations become stricter, the biodegradability of paper cups becomes important for stores to comply with, and there are huge differences among different materials .
( 1 ) PLA coated paper cups : The only paper cups on the market that can be fully degraded, made from plant starch. They break down into water and carbon dioxide in 3-6 months under industrial composting conditions of 55-70℃ and leave no plastic residue. Don’t just dump them outside without a thot in the world. They don’t degrade very quickly and need to be collected separately and treated by a professional organization.
(2) Paper cups coated with PE: Only the paper part is recyclable, because the PE coating cannot degrade in nature and machines have problems separating the paper and plastic. The coating becomes hard-to-dispose waste once it has been discarded. Kraft paper cups also have PE inner layer, the degradation effect is the same as ordinary white cardboard PE cups.
5. Reusing paper cups for ice cream?
That said, the general consensus is that all ice cream cups are single use items. It is not recommended, nor is it legal, to reuse ice cream cups for food.
( 1 ) The coating construction can not be washed away by water. The PE and PLA coatings are not strongly adhered to the paper. When washed and rubbed they will come off and lose the waterproof and oil-proof capabilities. If they are used to hold cold drinks, they will leak right thru. And when the paper is in contact with water it will soften and become unusable
2) Significant hygiene hazards. The sugars in the ice cream and dairy residue can leak into the paper seams and cannot be washed off with water or detergent. This easily causes growth of bacteria and mould and can cause gastrointestinal discomfort for the elderly and kids.
( 3 ) Food safety regulations forbid reuse. Disposable paper tableware is intended for single use. Merchants that are inspected and found to be re-using it will be punished and will also be liable for any food safety problems that occur.
The only possible temporary reuse is to wash and dry the tableware well, and use it for storing dry miscellaneous goods or handmade decorations. You cannot use it to store any food with water or oil.
Last Thoughts
Depending on your business model, choose the right paper cup for the best value. If you are a street vendor with high volume of sales, double-sided PE-coated cups will be the most cost-effective. If you want to create a premium and environmentally friendly impression, pick PLA cups or kraft paper cups for their visual appeal. Note: PLA cups are only truly green if there are dedicated recycling channels. Whether you are opening a new shop, rebranding your packaging, or sourcing for export or events, Please visit the Haokelao website and consult our team to obtain a tailored solution.
FAQ
1.What are the common materials of ice cream paper cups?
A: There are three main types of paper cups. One is PE coated paper cups (the most common paper cups, the inner layer is coated with polyethylene, which has good waterproof and oil-proof performance); One is PLA coated paper cups (environmentally friendly and biodegradable, made of plant materials such as corn, suitable for high-end eco-friendly shops); The other is kraft paper cups.
2.PE coated paper cups vs PLA coated paper cups, which is better?
A: PE coated cups are cost-effective, with stable waterproof and oil-proof performance, and can be used at a temperature of 90℃, making them the first choice for most businesses. The PLA coated cups are environmentally friendly and fully biodegradable under industrial composting conditions, but they are 30%-50% more expensive and have a slightly lower heat resistance (not exceeding 55℃). Both of them have similar performance in water-proof and oil-proof. If your store has environmental requirements, go with PLA, if more cost-effective, go with PE .
3.Do you freeze paper ice cream cups?
A: Yeah. Special paper cups for ice cream (PE or PLA coated) are designed for low-temperature environments and will not crack or peel even when stored for a long time in -20℃ cold storage. However, be aware that PLA paper cups are susceptible to damage by high temperatures and direct sunlight, so avoid direct sunlight during transport and storage.
4.Which type of paper cup is suitable for the sale of ice-cream at a roadside stall?
Q: Which type of paper cups do you recommend ? A: I recommend double sided PE coated paper cups , as they are the best value for money . They’re waterproof, oilproof, won’t crack when frozen, not prone to leakage, cheap and easily obtainable. If you want more of a basic look you can also select kraft paper PE coated cups, however they are a little more expensive.
5.How to distinguish between good and bad ice cream paper cups?
A. Here are four things we recommend you do: ” Look, Smell, Squeeze and Shine ” —Look: Check for QS/ food-grade markings on the packaging. No printing should be within 15mm of the cup rim. Smell : A qualified paper cup shall have no smell. Squeeze: The cup should feel a little firm, if it is too soft it might be a sign of poor workmanship. Shine: Take a fake money detector pen and see if there is any fluorescence (if there are fluorescent whitening agents, the product is of poor quality).
About The Author：
Jason Fu
Hi, I’m Jason Fu, General Manager, Marketing Director, and SEO Expert at Haokelao. With over 20 years in the paper food packaging industry, I bring deep expertise in export trade and a strong passion for SEO and marketing. Whether your questions are about paper food packaging products, or marketing strategies, I’m here to help and exchange ideas. Let’s connect!
